THE term “mental slavery” first struck a chord in 1980 with Bob Marley’s first public performance during the opening show of the Uprising Tour in Zurich, Switzerland.
In his iconic “Redemption Song,” Marley urges, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.”
This powerful message, inspired by Marcus Garvey’s 1937 call for African descendants to break the psychological chains of colonial oppression, reminds us that even after physical bondage ends, an inner dependency may persist.
Today, many critics draw parallels between this idea and our current political landscape, especially when it comes to the People’s National Movement (PNM) and its long-time supporters.
Mental slavery and the political irony
Dr Eric Williams, often celebrated as the “Father of the Nation” for leading Trinidad and Tobago to independence in 1962 and its later transition to a republic, once said, “The future of this nation is in your school bags.” Yet his offhand remark, “Money is no problem,” has been seen by many as a callous simplification, senseless and shortsighted statement.
Williams’ work, Capitalism and Slavery, challenged colonial exploitation. But critics now argue that over nearly 50 years of PNM governance, a culture has emerged that seems to encourage dependency rather than critical, independent thinking.
They question whether unwavering loyalty to the party is a product of genuine support or simply the result of generations of PNM supporters conditioned to accept the status quo amid a systemic lack of education and empowerment for supporters.
Many critics now acknowledge that this construct of a “homegrown PNM Trinidadian mental conditioning” reflects how the same psychological chains once imposed from colonialism were reconfigured to serve local power structures of the elites and high-ranking PNM officials to this day, while trapping citizens in a cycle of dependency that hinders true progress and self-determination.
In many PNM “safe seats” burdened by crime and high unemployment, voting patterns often reflect deep-rooted identity loyalties more than a careful evaluation of government performance.
For example, even as the Ministry of National Security, led by Fitzgerald Hinds, faced fierce criticism amid a record-high murder rate in 2024, many PNM supporters remained steadfast. This suggests that historical allegiance and ingrained mindsets can often overshadow critical assessment.
State-run programmes like CEPEP and URP further fuel the debate. While these initiatives provide short-term jobs, they frequently fall short of offering long-term skills or true empowerment, potentially locking people into a cycle of dependency.
Many see this as a direct outcome of the PNM leadership’s repeated inability to craft more forward-thinking solutions.
Adding to the complexity, the PNM has long painted its opposition, the United National Congress (UNC), as a threat to stability.
This “us versus them” approach not only discourages robust debate but also deepens societal divisions. In many PNM constituencies or safe seats, many residents have come to accept poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, and failing schools as inevitable.
This acceptance of substandard and poor conditions has been described by some as a very sad reflection of deeply held beliefs about what is achievable or deserved, a phenomenon that echoes Garvey’s concept of mental conditioning.
A viral social media clip from Diego Martin West captures this senseless allegiance when one resident declared, “If the PNM put a craupud there, I’m voting for that.”
Shock to mental conditioning?
The recent endorsement of Stuart Young as a potential successor to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has only intensified the conversation.
Young, who has held several ministerial roles since 2015 (including positions in National Security and Energy), remains a divisive figure.
Critics point to his lack of notable achievements and the opposition has noted that he has recused himself from over 100 Cabinet meetings, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the awarding of contracts.
While some see his potential rise as a move toward a more inclusive political future, many view it as a challenge to long-entrenched loyalty patterns, leaving open the question of whether any meaningful change is on the horizon.
Shiva Ramnarine, founder of Mobius Solutions Consultancy, has over 25 years of experience as an Executive and Finance Business Leader. He is also a former chief financial officer of the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago. The views and opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of AZP News, a Division of Complete Image Limited
‘Mental Slavery’ Deepens Divides in T&T
AZP News Commentary
THE term “mental slavery” first struck a chord in 1980 with Bob Marley’s first public performance during the opening show of the Uprising Tour in Zurich, Switzerland.
In his iconic “Redemption Song,” Marley urges, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.”
This powerful message, inspired by Marcus Garvey’s 1937 call for African descendants to break the psychological chains of colonial oppression, reminds us that even after physical bondage ends, an inner dependency may persist.
Today, many critics draw parallels between this idea and our current political landscape, especially when it comes to the People’s National Movement (PNM) and its long-time supporters.
Mental slavery and the political irony
Dr Eric Williams, often celebrated as the “Father of the Nation” for leading Trinidad and Tobago to independence in 1962 and its later transition to a republic, once said, “The future of this nation is in your school bags.” Yet his offhand remark, “Money is no problem,” has been seen by many as a callous simplification, senseless and shortsighted statement.
Williams’ work, Capitalism and Slavery, challenged colonial exploitation. But critics now argue that over nearly 50 years of PNM governance, a culture has emerged that seems to encourage dependency rather than critical, independent thinking.
They question whether unwavering loyalty to the party is a product of genuine support or simply the result of generations of PNM supporters conditioned to accept the status quo amid a systemic lack of education and empowerment for supporters.
Many critics now acknowledge that this construct of a “homegrown PNM Trinidadian mental conditioning” reflects how the same psychological chains once imposed from colonialism were reconfigured to serve local power structures of the elites and high-ranking PNM officials to this day, while trapping citizens in a cycle of dependency that hinders true progress and self-determination.
In many PNM “safe seats” burdened by crime and high unemployment, voting patterns often reflect deep-rooted identity loyalties more than a careful evaluation of government performance.
For example, even as the Ministry of National Security, led by Fitzgerald Hinds, faced fierce criticism amid a record-high murder rate in 2024, many PNM supporters remained steadfast. This suggests that historical allegiance and ingrained mindsets can often overshadow critical assessment.
State-run programmes like CEPEP and URP further fuel the debate. While these initiatives provide short-term jobs, they frequently fall short of offering long-term skills or true empowerment, potentially locking people into a cycle of dependency.
Many see this as a direct outcome of the PNM leadership’s repeated inability to craft more forward-thinking solutions.
Adding to the complexity, the PNM has long painted its opposition, the United National Congress (UNC), as a threat to stability.
This “us versus them” approach not only discourages robust debate but also deepens societal divisions. In many PNM constituencies or safe seats, many residents have come to accept poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, and failing schools as inevitable.
This acceptance of substandard and poor conditions has been described by some as a very sad reflection of deeply held beliefs about what is achievable or deserved, a phenomenon that echoes Garvey’s concept of mental conditioning.
A viral social media clip from Diego Martin West captures this senseless allegiance when one resident declared, “If the PNM put a craupud there, I’m voting for that.”
Shock to mental conditioning?
The recent endorsement of Stuart Young as a potential successor to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has only intensified the conversation.
Young, who has held several ministerial roles since 2015 (including positions in National Security and Energy), remains a divisive figure.
Critics point to his lack of notable achievements and the opposition has noted that he has recused himself from over 100 Cabinet meetings, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the awarding of contracts.
While some see his potential rise as a move toward a more inclusive political future, many view it as a challenge to long-entrenched loyalty patterns, leaving open the question of whether any meaningful change is on the horizon.
Shiva Ramnarine, founder of Mobius Solutions Consultancy, has over 25 years of experience as an Executive and Finance Business Leader. He is also a former chief financial officer of the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago. The views and opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of AZP News, a Division of Complete Image Limited